June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Five lawmakers will run for the
leadership of the U.K. Labour Party after each winning 33 or
more nominations from fellow members in the House of Commons.

Diane Abbott will join former Cabinet ministers Ed Balls,
Andy Burnham and brothers David and Ed Miliband in the contest
to replace Gordon Brown, the party said in an e-mailed statement
today. Brown triggered the leadership vote when he resigned
after Labour lost the May 6 election.

A sixth candidate, John McDonnell, pulled out this
morning in order to help Abbott win enough nominations to run,
he said in an e-mailed statement. The result of a ballot of
party members will be announced on Sept. 25, the eve of Labour’s
annual party conference.

“Over the next few months over 4 million people will have
the chance to help shape Britain’s progressive future by
choosing the next leader of the Labour Party,” acting party
leader Harriet Harman said in the statement. “The contest will
be open engaging and energizing.”

Harman nominated Abbott, as did David Miliband, who said he
wanted an open contest and a wide debate before the ballot.
Abbott, 56, became Britain’s first black woman lawmaker in 1987.

Nominations for the leadership race closed today. Under
party rules, prospective candidates needed the backing of 12.5
percent of the Labour lawmakers in the Commons, the lower
chamber of Parliament.